Notes from a recital in London with yours truly.

A request to give a short recital from an old friend from student days in London found me in Hammersmith, just west of central London. Brook Green is an area tucked away beside a long narrow park, around which abound old studios built as artist's ateliers back in the 19th century. I played in Applegarth Studio, a fabulous space with two grand pianos, one a Steinway of years but great distinction, and the other a Boesendorfer that Liszt performed on in London. I chose the Steinway, as the ghost of Liszt was a bit daunting. I have been performing the first movement of the great Fantasy of Schumann this Spring,and for once I was satisfied. It takes so much tension, physically and musically, to bring this off. It was an outstandingly warm evening for London, but I played and did not notice the heat or anything else. I think living in South Carolina gives us a special stamina when it comes to heat. I also played a group of Chopin, and also some Preludes of Debussy. I ended with three songs of Jerome Kern, which I arranged very much in the style of the times when they were written. We hear these great songs so pulled about today as regards to phrasing and rhythm, it is perhaps a shock to hear the simple four square rhythms done in a straight forward manner. To play for Londoners is daunting, as they hear everyone, and often one still runs across older people who remember quite a few of the Immortals as well. One man came forward to tell me he had just heard the Fantasy at Snape Maltings (Aldeburgh Festival founded by Benjamin Britten) and mine was much more profound. Well, I have played for 60 years and no one has ever said my playing was profound! He then suggested I come back and play an all Debussy program next season. What a surprise and such an unexpected consequence.

London and the Season: Netrebko and Grigolo

When you read about London ,you sometimes come across comments about The Season, that period in late May and all of June, when London comes alive with social activities. It all sounds a bit Edwardian in this day and age, but it still goes on today and is centered around the races at Ascot, crew races at Hendley, and of course tennis at Winbledon. There is also a very fine short opera season at Covent Garden, and last Sunday I heard a the debut of a great new tenor. His name is Vittorio Grigolo. a very handsome 32 year old from Arezzo, Italy. I was pleased to read he was from Arezzo, as that is the neighboring city to Cortona, where USC had a wonderful opera program for a number of years. Also, it is the birthplace of Guido of Arezzo...remember Guido's Hand from music theory class! (he is the father of modern music notation). Grigolo stunned the audience as Des Grieux in "Manon" by Massenet, first of all as he was virtually unknown, and what was known was that he writes popular Italian lovesongs very successfully, and of course records them. His Manon was no less than Anna Netrebko, the hottest ticket in opera in Europe. I went with some misgivings, as the times I have heard her I felt she was very uneven, with a sometimes sloppy regard for accuracy and rhythm. The fact that she is drop-dead beautiful and you can't take eyes away from her on stage, such is her charsima, is a given. In this role she was magnificent, and she had cleaned up her musicianship to an entirely new level. She literally threw herself into this role, where she begins as a 16 year old off to a convent school, continues on as a runaway to be with her first love, abandons him to become the mistress of the wealthiest man in Paris, gambles away everything in a casino and ends up dying in the gutter. Fabulous role! As for Grigolo,he plays the ardent young rich boy gone wrong to the hilt. He was by terns lovestruck, petulant, hysterical, repentant,and at the end, heartbroken by his own willfulness. Fabulous role! To say we were all swept away is an understatement.I continue to be impressed with Antonio Pappano, the wonderful music director of Covent Garden, who has lifted everything up tremendously. Can you believe a first class seat at Covent Garden runs to about 350. these days. Considering all else, and the limited time I have to experience these treats, its worth every penny.